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I'll probably book it in somewhere later this year, get all the roof and C pillars done at the same time so I'll have one less bit of cosmetic work to do. ___ Today's job was the dashboard. For at least as long as I've owned it there have been what I thought were wires fouling the 3 speed on the blower selector. I determined to resolve this, especially since I remember the car getting quite stifling last summer with the blowers not quite being strong enough. You know how sometimes you decide to do a job with the attitude of "it'll just be a quick tweak" and it ends up taking you HOURS? Yeah, that happened. First up was the chore of disconnecting things so that I could dismantle the fascia. I was hoping to just lift out the wooden insert, but that's not how the dashboard comes apart. To get to the bit I needed I'd removed the glovebox (which it turns out I didn't have to do), the top dash vent trims and all of the fascia. I also had to disconnect and remove the radio and dismantle the steering column shroud as well as removing the lower half of the dashboard to resolve another issue I needed to sort out. I annoyed myself by managing to poke the battery telltale and push the filter off the surround so that's another one to fix.  My main goal was those pesky wires, I couldn't figure out what they were for at first and I started by removing the heater control panel. It's actually fairly tidy behind the dash, especially considering what a mess is on show on the driver's side.   Someone had been in here before me. A number of the screws were not original and there were clear signs of tampering. I'm not sure what the previous fettler was after, but whatever they'd done they'd disconnected the wires from the heater display and reconnected them by running them through the selector for reasons that entirely escape me. All that's happened as a result is that the wires have been crimped a bit as a result. I realigned it all and connected it up and still couldn't figure out what they were for, they didn't seem to do anything. Chasing the wires did make it clear, eventually. The same strange wires were used on the switch bank and I hadn't twigged at the time that what I was actually looking at was single density fibre optics.  Can't say I ever expected to find fibre optics in a car, I can't decide if it's an impressive space solution, or a gimmick, but I don't recall it being mentioned by fellow Princess owners or in literature so maybe it was considered far more ordinary a thing than I'm giving it credit. The other job was to reconnect the centre ventilation flap for the blowers. When I'd been in at the dash before (I forget what for now) the rod had come adrift. Easy enough to refit and works properly now. The fibre optics were tidied away and now for the first time I can select 3 on the blowers, which is a bit fierce and totally welcome for the warmer weather!  I did annoy myself when I'd put the dash back together though. The binnacle has three plastic trims for the dials which are held into the wood by metal spring clips. You can only seat the trims into these clips with the fascia off and I didn't think to sort them out while everything was in bits. Ah well, another job for another day, they've not been seated properly since I got the car so it won't hurt to for them to be loose a while longer I suppose. I also forgot to put the bulb back in for the clock, but I need to remove that to repaint the hands at some point anyway and that's an involved job that can definitely wait a bit longer. Tomorrow... well, maybe we'll get a bumper fitted. |
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Fibre optics? Did it look professionally installed?
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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Looked original and more professional than the factory Scotch-locks on the wiring loom that I found.
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Would have said maybe it was something to do with the sound system but looking at your radio probably not! Maybe an old alarm?
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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The fibre optics are original, it's not a later addition. They work from a single bulb on the right hand of the dash and light the heater/blower control and the switch bank to the right of the steering wheel. It's actually very clever, but surprisingly not a modification.
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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BL engineering was very inventive wasn't it though to be honest, its just a shame that the company was run by penny pinching accountants who saw the need to cut costs on everything. Who knows what the motor industry would look like nowadays if BL had been run by engineers instead!
Anyway rant over, what's next on the Princess agenda?
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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Next on the agenda? Not a lot really. Between now and insurance day I can't spend mega bucks so I've got to do the stuff outstanding that I've just been putting off. I'm going to have a crack at straightening the front bumper and rewelding the broken bracket so I can get both bumpers refitted then. Rocker cover ought to come off for a clean and spruce up and to sort out a couple of very minor oil weeps which is a fairly involved job, especially since it's likely I've got the cover type that means the cam will lift when I remove it. After insurance I want to bleed the brakes and fit the new rear shoes and I want to change the oil as that's a bit of an unknown quantity, I'm expecting the contents of the sump to be pretty vile. Suspension could do with a re-gas too. Once that's done I don't think there's much needed on the mechanical side of things so I'll be able to turn my attention to cosmetic stuff like that rear door with the bubbles and fitting the Lotus wheels with some lovely new nuts. I expect that things will come together rather quickly this year because I'm fast running out of jobs that need doing compared to when I bought the car. Since it's dark, I got a couple of shots of the dash that that the fibre optics illuminate. The cigar lighter has a dedicated bulb as far as I can tell. Looks like my radio doesn't illuminate but I can't remember if that's always been the case, or if it's just started doing it. This is the dash with the interior light on, just so I could see what I was photographing.  And without. It's a bit curse word really, always has been.  |
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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Hope to see this on the road some day soon.
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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21st of May is my due date for being on the road. I'll be at the 3rd of June RR South Yorkshire meet, if you can you should toddle over.
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May 10, 2013 16:36:00 GMT
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I seem to be doing more than one job a day, this can only be a good thing, except for the fact that I'm running out of jobs to do! Today, I decided I wanted to at least get the back bumper on since it's a straight forward bolt on job, made easier when you've got a second pair of hands. Rather than sort the rear out first, my brother and I twisted and hammered and otherwise straightened the front bumper as much as possible to get it refitted to the car. It's not perfect, but that's okay. The important thing is how much better the front end now looks. The only issue was that the two wing bolts have gone missing so I'll need to have a rummage for something suitable to replace those with. The valance is still squished back a bit too, but that's also useful because it means I didn't have to move the number plate. Just as well since I still don't have a working drill or any sticky pads to hand.  By comparison, the rear bumper was a breeze, just fiddly getting it all to line up.  The telltales I broke are currently sat on my desk setting so I can reinstate them which is another job done and I found a sticker that I'd convinced myself I'd put on the boot of the Polo. Had the perfect spot for it on the Princess, I hope Mr May would approve.  Tomorrow should be a challenge because I'm pretty much out of jobs to do now that don't involve spending chunks of money for things like fresh oil and DOT4. I might have a go at deep cleaning the engine bay to really get things tip top under the bonnet, but other than that I'm struggling to think of anything that wants for attention. |
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retrolegends
Club Retro Rides Member
Winging it.....Since 1971.
Posts: 3,726
Club RR Member Number: 94
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May 10, 2013 17:22:51 GMT
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Ha ha love the sticker.
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1974 Hillman Avenger 1500DL1992 Volvo 240SE1975 Datsun Cherry 100a flying custard1965 Hillman SuperMinx Rock N Roller1974 Austin Allegrat Mk1 1.3SDL1980 Austin Allegro Mk3 1.3L1982 Austin Allegro Mk3 on banded steels2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible 220bhp TurboNutter1966 Morris Minor 1000 (Doris) 2019 Abarth 595C Turismo (not retro but awesome fun) www.facebook.com/DatsunCherry100a |
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May 11, 2013 19:46:20 GMT
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I wish I could remember who made that sticker for me, their name entirely escapes me. Top work and top service, whoever it was. ____ Today on Fix the Princess - BBC Four's only successful motor car programme and not to be confused with BBC Three's programme of the same name - we are going to show you just how to go about bleeding a brake system that probably hasn't been touched for 20 years... is what I would have said except that we were sensible and decided to soak the bleed nipples overnight in penetrating oil to further prevent the chance of snapping them off when we attempt to bleed the system. For such an integral part of the brake maintenance system, bleed nipples are as we all know notoriously fragile. Instead, I went looking for jobs. Purchased 2ltrs of DOT4 - I might be bleeding the Clutch hydraulics too, and the brake system needs a proper flush, better to have more than not enough - a bleed hose, some nuts and washers and priced up the oil change and clutch kit. Couldn't get a price on a clutch kit in store as it's another special order item so they'll call me back Monday afternoon with a price if they have any in stock. The back up plan for the clutch kit is to go online and spend about £40 on the relevant three part kit. So, brakes tomorrow. Today it was a case of having a poke around the car to find something to do that didn't involve dismantling bits of engine. I'd just about run out of ideas when I noticed the interior light didn't work with the driver's door, I had got so used to this I'd forgotten about it. Hoorah, a chance to meddle! Switch out to investigate, turns out the driver's side one wasn't even screwed in just sort of wedged into the door seal. Passenger side was attached properly. Nice and easy to remove and disconnect.  That restorer has been in here too, look at the state of this. One screw was all that needed to be undone and they wouldn't have got brush paint beige all over the trim and seal. This sort of thing makes me grumpy, it is a bad bodge.  Checked both switches and found that they were both all black on the connecting faces. The passenger door switch would work intermittently and was less heavily corroded.  Quick clean up with some wet and dry on both surfaces and it was ready to reinstall. Also gave the switch trims a clean to get rid of overpaint and the like.  Back in the doors and the switches work as if they were brand new. I'm very pleased with this, probably more than I ought to be. It's the little things.   Last thing to do was make use of three washers, a bolt and a nut in each wing to stop the front bumper jiggling. Fiddly, but straightforward and while it's only a tweak to the front end it does pull the edges of the bumper in a bit neater and stops it looking a bit droopy at the sides. Unfortunately, the duct tape appears to have bonded with the paint so wouldn't peel off properly. Fortunately you can't see it so it doesn't matter.  Brakes tomorrow then. 7 days until insurance, 10 days until road tax. I am literally counting the days until I get back behind the wheel, having this car off the road for 6 months is far, far too long. |
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We are now insured. Tax happens at the start of June, it seems daft to put it on for the tail end of May when I shan't be able to drive the car anyway (we'll be in different places). First outing will be the Retro Rides South Yorkshire meet. I'm quite excited to get behind the wheel again properly, she's been off the road now for nearly 7 months, and that's far too long. The recently unpredictable weather really has made me miss having a garage a lot, I've been totally unable to get the brakes sorted as everytime I've got the time it rains and when I haven't the time it's gloriously sunny. |
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Oh yes indeed...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
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This update will make some of my regular readers happy bunnies, I think. As of 3 minutes past midnight, we are now fully road legal. To celebrate, I went on a hunt for a 24 hour petrol station. Of course, I was massively paranoid about every unfamiliar smell and noise and sensation the car gave me, but even when I stopped to check if the carb was curse word out fuel (it wasn't) or if there was an oil explosion or my engine had fallen out or something equally stupid I was rewarded with zero drama from the old bus. The only issue is the continued dampness on this side of the carb, particularly where the float's rod connects to the casing. Whatever it is that's causing the dampness feels slightly greasy and has no discernible odour, which would match the description for the fresh ATF that was put in the squelch pot but I don't understand why it would end up at the bottom corner of the carb. I'm certainly not leaking petrol like I was before fitting the new float needle and seat and the base plate doesn't appear to be leaking at all now. Time will tell on this one, I do want to rebuild the carb properly anyway at some point, but that'll mean a new choke and throttle cable thanks to the ends of the current ones being badly frayed.  Took a quick photo opportunity and noticed that the LED lights I had previously dismissed as being dull and pointless are actually very bright, looking for all the world like I've fitted neon lights in the rear valance. Weird.   Happy that nothing was doing anything it shouldn't, I headed off in search of a petrol station. I found a Murco station that's open 24 hours that I thought was only regular hours and stuck a much needed £15 in the tank. On the way to the station the car had been a bit stuttery and sluggish, with fresh fuel she seemed to perk up quite a bit. Seems unlikely that fuel would go stale in only 7 months, but I suppose it's possible.  So we're back as a team and on daily duties once more. Retro Rides on Monday, then it'll be a case of working through the last few mechanical niggles before moving on to purchasing new metal and paint. You never know, I might actually have her looking presentable this time next year. |
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jpsmit
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,273
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epic journey! congrats and thanks for bringing us along
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wow!!! well done on getting her back on the road.
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Well done mate, modern fuel can go stale in 2 weeks, so 7 months would definitely acount for the poorer running.
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hairymel
Club Retro Rides Member
avatar by volksangyl
Posts: 1,081
Club RR Member Number: 207
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good to see the princess on the road again  |
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whats that burning smell?
oh curse word :-(
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Onne
Part of things
Posts: 822
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Limes Cafe tomorrow?
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1990 Mercedes W126 300SE
1997 Mercedes W140 S320L
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